Every year, 8 March is observed as International Women’s Day (IWD). A global day celebrating women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements, Women’s Day also marks the need for accelerating gender equality.
On the event of International Women’s Day 2023, let’s take a look at all the important health checks for women, especially women aged 30, 40, and 50.
Health Checks For Women
It is important to note that women are susceptible to a variety of health conditions due to our anatomical setup. In addition, hormonal changes can contribute to these conditions and potentially put us at risk for developing a variety of illnesses as we age.
It is essential to maintain regular health checkups in order to prevent these ailments from developing. By identifying early warning signs, regular health checkups can help prevent both painful symptoms and the cost of long-term medical treatment.
Important Health Checks for Women Over 30 In order to maintain optimum health, you should consider performing these five tests regularly as you advance into or past your thirties. If you exhibit certain symptoms or possess certain risk factors, such as a family history of a particular disease, you may need to start these tests sooner
1. Pap smear test
The Pap smear and pelvic examination examine the cells of your cervix in order to determine your risk of cervical cancer – a disease that is highly treatable when detected early. The pelvic examination, on the other hand, consists of a physical examination of your reproductive organs, including your vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vulva, and cervix.
2. Mammogram
In a mammogram, the patient’s breasts are compressed between two plates for x-ray imaging, which allows doctors to screen for breast cancer. In India, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women, with women as young as 30 suffering from the disease.
Despite the fact that an early diagnosis can save a woman’s life, many women discover they have breast cancer when it is too late to save them.
3. Thyroid function test
The thyroid gland is more likely to be under-active or over-active in women. A thyroid function test will test your thyroid hormone levels for normality. You should discuss whether you need this test with your doctor since the symptoms mentioned above could also indicate other regular ailments or ageing.
4. Lipid panel test
Having a lipid panel test is important for anyone, whether you are a woman or not. High cholesterol levels can clog your arteries and cause heart disease. Furthermore, high cholesterol levels do not show any significant symptoms and can only be detected by a blood test.
5. Blood pressure test
Women especially are at higher risk for heart disease due to hormonal and lifestyle factors such as menopause, pregnancy complications, and stress. Blood pressure tests can detect heart disease early on. If your blood pressure is normal, you should have an annual check-up. If your blood pressure is too high or too low, you will have to have more frequent tests.
Important Health Checks for Women Over 40
1. Cholesterol screening
Cholesterol screenings (also called lipid panels) measure cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. The test tells you if you’re at risk of cardiovascular disease. You need some cholesterol in your body, but if you have too much, it can build up in your arteries and lead to strokes and heart attacks. If you are at risk, your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes.
2. Diabetes screening
In the fasting plasma glucose test, your blood glucose level will be checked while you are fasting. In the event that your blood glucose level is excessively high, you will need to be retested later to determine if diabetes has been diagnosed. A doctor will recommend lifestyle changes if there is a problem.
3. Eye and dental exams
Keeping up with your vision changes requires updating your prescription if you wear glasses or contact lenses. It is also important to be sure that no vision problems develop. You should have an eye exam every two years after the age of 40. Ensure that you have dental cleaning and exams every six months, and brush and floss diligently.
Important Health Checks for Women Over 50
1. Hepatitis C screening
One of the agency has reported a five-fold increase in the risk of infecting baby boomers with hepatitis C compared with other adults. This is due to the fact that many baby boomers may have been exposed to hepatitis C via blood transfusions or other risk factors prior to the virus being discovered in 1989.
2. Bone density test
It is estimated that one-half of postmenopausal women will fracture as a result of osteoporosis after menopause. If lifestyle changes or osteoporosis medication are needed to protect your bones, a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) test will tell you.
3. Colonoscopy
Most women should undergo a colonoscopy at the age of 50, however, if you have risk factors such as a family history of colon cancer or ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease, you may need to undergo screening earlier
Also, get the following tests done:
- Blood sugar screening
- Blood pressure check
- Cholesterol check
- Pap smear
- Mammogram
On A Final Note… For women, health screening tests are extremely important, as they are at risk for serious health conditions such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, etc. Screening allows women to catch health risks at an early stage, allowing them to be treated successfully.
About Author
